Crossing Borders: Fascinating Investigations Made by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

Crossing Borders: Fascinating Investigations Made by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

"Crossing Borders" is this year's Organization of American Historians Annual Meeting theme—crossing the borders of professions, career levels, historical specialties, and interests to provide attendees with opportunities for scholarly and professional development.

“The history of the United States is a product of migrations both internal and international. Along with people, goods and ideas crossed these borders, reshaping the composition and character of the American people. Sometimes the borders and boundaries were physical, as when international migrants crossed oceans and continents, or when large numbers of individuals migrated from one region of the country to another, or when the lure of wealth and influence led to foreign invasions and conquests. Those on the move were accompanied by bacteria or viruses, microorganisms whose migration across borders also shaped human experience. Borders were also framed by culture—racial, ethnic, class, and gender differences that perennially redefined our population and social order. The theme for the 2014 conference seeks to examine, in all their complexity, a broad array of border crossings and 'encounters' in U.S. history, highlighting the contributions and challenges presented by those who transcended borders to redefine their lives or flee the constraints of their pasts.”—Organization of American Historians(1)

Via ProQuest historical resources, researchers can explore immigration and centuries of events from ancient times to the recent past, such as the expansion of American cities and towns, slavery, immigration, industrialization, globalization, civil rights, women’s rights, politics, wars, and beyond.

ProQuest® History Vault ̶ Immigration: INS Records, 1880 ̶ 1930, includes the fascinating investigations made by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) during the massive immigration wave at the 20th century. The files are invaluable for research in economic and labor history, the treatment of legal and illegal immigrants, U.S. immigration legislation, policies, and relations. The political nature of many of the records in this module, coupled with the prominence of the immigration debate during the Progressive era, will make the collection of interest to students of immigration and political, economic, and labor historians. Coverage includes: Asian immigration and Exclusion, 1898-1941; Mexican Immigration, 1906–1930; Ellis Island, 1900–1933; European Investigations, 1898–1936; Prostitution and White Slavery, 1902–1933; and Suppression of Aliens.

Recently completed ahead of schedule, ProQuest History Vault ̶ NAACP Papers offers nearly 2 million pages of internal memos, legal briefings and direct action summaries from the offices of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) throughout the United States.

These are just two modules that are part of ProQuest History Vault, an initiative to digitize historically rich primary sources, opening their discovery to broader audiences, fully searchable and accessible through academic, research, and public library websites.

Unlock history with an exceptional array of unparalleled resources, including ProQuest History Vault and ProQuest Historical Newspapers™.

Visit us in Booth 714 at the 2014 Organization of American Historians Conference, April 10-13 in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more, and sign up for free trials at www.proquest.com/go/history.

(1) Founded in 1907, the Organization of American Historians (OAH) is the largest professional society dedicated to the teaching and study of American history. The mission of the organization is to promote excellence in the scholarship, teaching, and presentation of American history, and to encourage wide discussion of historical questions and the equitable treatment of all practitioners of history.

09 Apr 2014

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